In the era of the Great Depression Rogilla was one of three champions that lifted spirits

During the early 1930s, Rogilla competed in the same time period as the legendary Phar Lap and the swift Chatham. These three horses frequently encountered each other on occasions. Rogilla was by the sire Roger de Busli (GB) and his dam Speargila was by Brakespear (GB). Roger de Busli won three races from 20 starts in England, commencing stud duties in 1925, but siring only one other winner of a principal race in Oro, winner of the 1935 AJC Metropolitan Handicap. Rogilla's dam Speargila was a very good racemare that won 13 races in Sydney, plus 10 other provincial and country races. Rogilla descended from Carbine and was the first of many Australian champions from the British sire line of Hurry On (1913). Affectionately known as the “Coalfields Champion,” the gutsy gelding Rogilla made 70 starts, winning 26. As a late bloomer he raced well into his eight-year-old season.

His renowned trainer, Mr. Les Haigh, was born in Bega in 1892. Previously a jockey in the Muswellbrook region, he relocated his stables from Newcastle to Sydney. In 1934, he acquired the prominent Randwick trainer Frank Marsden's 10-box stables situated at 11 Bowral Street, Kensington, directly opposite the current Tulloch Lodge. The 'Gaulusville' stables are legendary and were built and named soon after 1897 by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Stephen Callinan, who rode Gaulus to victory, but it was also where Phar Lap began his illustrious racing career in 1929.

The white faced Rogilla began his racing career two months short of his fourth season. A horse of modest build, he stood at 15.3 hands tall. Despite enduring numerous injuries and illnesses, he is remembered for his exceptional bravery when competing against the finest gallopers during the Great Depression. In 17 of the races he contested he won eight by a neck or less, lost four by a neck or less and figured in five dead heats for first. He always pulled hard in races, which cost him any chance in the three Melbourne Cups he contested. His best season was at six years of age when he won 11 from 17 starts and in 1934 defeated the great champion Peter Pan in four successive meetings, including the AJC Kings Cup. Rogilla, when racing in Melbourne was stabled at Caulfield with trainer Cecil T. Godby, who trained the Caulfield Cup winners Purser 1924, Gaine Carrington 1933 and Northwind 1936.

One of his finest wins was in the 1932 Caulfield Cup after an unlucky run of form during the AJC meeting. In the Cup for the first two or three furlongs Rogilla was trapped in the ruck, but at the end of the first half mile he began a very fast forward move and at the five furlongs post he was third behind Johnnie Jason and Induna. Three furlongs from home he was in front and kept up a sustained gallop from the fast finishing Segati, holding on by half a length to gain victory. G. Robinson had gained the ride after Darby Munro was injured in a fall on Rogilla at Randwick. Darby Munro rode Rogilla to win the 1933 Cox Plate, one of five record victories for the jockey in the race. Munro won his Cox Plates across a nineteen-year period, during which he also spent two years in the Australian Army fighting in Would War Two. Considered by many to be the greatest ever Australian jockey, Munro was noted for his daring rides and vigorous style.

Things weren’t looking overly promising for Rogilla coming into his eight-year-old season. He was reportedly ‘scratchy’ in his action a fortnight out from the Warwick Stakes. His owner and trainer Les Haigh took him to Victoria Park, away from his box at Randwick for trackwork the week prior to the race. He ran 50.75s for his 800m gallop, so it was all systems go towards the Warwick. From an almost standing start at the half mile, Rogilla quickly gathered speed, but as he swung into the straight he lugged badly. Rogilla and Silver King paired off in the straight and when Rogilla loomed large it appeared he had the measure of Silver King, only for the favourite to fight back and nab a share of the spoils. Rogilla was the master of splitting a race, which was understated at the time as being ‘unusual’.

There would be no shortage of noise if a horse were to dead-heat twice in Saturday grade in this day and age - let alone five times. Prior to the Warwick Stakes dead-heat he also shared the spoils with the following gallopers: Yore (Newcastle novice), Chatham (Tramway Handicap), Loch Garry (Flying Handicap, Newcastle) and Flimsel (Denman Stakes, Randwick). After the Warwick dead-heat, Rogilla went on to be scratched from the Epsom Handicap, instead contesting the Chelmsford Stakes in mid-September in which he finished third. He was actually shooting for his third Chelmsford, but the win instead went the way of Sylvandale, while Contact - who had been disqualified from the Warwick - was reportedly on track to be a big chance in The Metropolitan after an eye-catcher in the Chelmsford. Rogilla followed that up with another third, behind Peter Pan and Berestoi in the Spring Stakes - a race he'd also won previously, twice. His retirement was announced in March 1936, when he was sent back to his birthplace, Havilah Stud.


RACE RECORD - 70: 26 (5DH), 12-11
EARNINGS - £22,674

Caulfield Cup (1932)
Tramway Handicap (1932)
Sydney Cup (1933)
W S Cox Plate (1933)
Melbourne Stakes (1933)
C.B.Fisher Plate (1933
Randwick Plate (1933)
AJC Autumn Plate (1933)
Chelmsford Stakes (1933, 1934)
AJC Spring Stakes (1933, 1934)
AJC Kings Cup (1934)
Rawson Stakes (1934)
Chipping Norton Stakes (1935)
Warwick Stakes (1935)